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Now we progressed to the setup IsoTek recommends – to use this device as a pre mains filter in front of a power conditioner (or in our case a power regenerator). In this setup the buzz-prone active woofers were both fed from a separate zone, all other equipment from other zones and where possible—with components not interfering as confirmed by the Noise Analyser—grouped together in a Furutech power distribution block. As with the prior setup the woofers were dead quiet. But there was more. It wasn’t just that the speaker bass systems had been silenced. The entire system showed benefits from this pre filtering.


As the Noise Analyser had indicated before, the PS Audio PPP perfectly filters any and all mains noise the Analyser is capable of detecting. This is in sharp contrast to the description of the PPP which states that the device has no filtering objective*. Our assumption remains that the conversion from a US-based 120V design to our European 240V version by means of a step-up transformer added adequate filtering.
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* The PPP has a display option that shows THD in percentages for incoming or outgoing voltage but we think it is a bit crude and not as easy to use as the Blue Horizon Analyser.


So how did the Syncro behave once connected to the Noise Analyser? Was there any measurable difference? Armed with the Analyser, an iPad with dB measuring app and a home-made IEC-male- to-C2 shotgun converter cable, we attacked. The wall outlet we used showed a reading of 592. The analyser’s speaker spit out noise and a radio station that caused the dB meter to show 70dB on the iPad. Leaving all things at the same relative distance we swapped the metering cables and inserted the Syncro. As expected and advertised, there was no difference. Same 592 reading, same 70dB noise, same radio station. The Syncro filters DC, not RF.


We conclude that the Syncro is indeed an effective DC-on-AC filter just as advertised. This not only prevents power transformers from buzzing but also cleans up the overall system’s sound especially at very low volume settings. On top of that the Syncro does not appear to introduce any sonically adverse effects. It’s thus a perfect solution for replacing any wall-to-conditioner power cable and to add DC filtering to your conditioner or regenerator of choice.


Condition of component received:
 Excellent.
Quality of owner's manual: N/A.
Website comments: Manufacturer’s website is informative and well maintained.
Pricing: Fair for the results.
Human interactions: Friendly and honest but not always as quickly responsive as hoped for.
Final remark: This pre filter DC-cleaning cable is unique on the market and should be considered mandatory by all who currently run a power conditioner, power bar, outlet multiplier or power regenerator.
IsoTek website
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